Mondays With Mike: PITCH-A-PALOOZA PROTOCAL

FOR THOSE OF you who are planning on attending Love Is Murder next month in Chicago, here are some tips on how to “pitch” your manuscript to an agent or editor. This comes from the LIM website.

How to Fast Pitch

Prepare a 2 to 3-minute succinct platform of your work. (For a good description of what a “platform” is, read Sarie Morrell’s article describing publicity she developed for CREEPERS, a novel by her father, David Morrell. The article can be found here.) 

Practice your pitch to include the salient points—definitive type or sub-genre of mystery; what sets your manuscript apart from others in this category; etc. Make your platform “slick and quick.”

Be prepared to list any previously published work if asked.

Don't chitchat; pleasantries take up valuable time.

When the doors open, take a place in line at the table of the person to whom you want to pitch. When the lights flash, begin your pitch. When the lights flash again, move quickly to the next line. Continue around the room in this manner until the pitch session ends.

Bring business cards with your contact information and give them to the agents or editors with whom you meet. If you don't have business cards, use small index cards with your information and include a short sentence describing your manuscript.

Try pitching to all the agents and editors. Be aware that some lines may be longer than others, so take that into consideration as you move from table to table. Don’t be discouraged if you’re unable to speak with someone during the first pitch session; there will be 3 sessions, giving you sufficient time to speak with everyone present.

LIM volunteers will be on hand to help keep the lines moving and the center of the room clear. Please be considerate if you're asked to do something by a volunteer. They are there to help everyone get their fair chance to pitch.

Lastly, have fun! Be creative, but not bizarre!

To date, almost three dozen writers have found agents, editors, or publishers for their books at LIM. It could happen to you!

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I sold my first book through a pitch session at LIM, so if you have a manuscript, or are just a fan, check out LIM … there are still reduced price packages available!  Love Is Murder will be held at the Intercontinental Chicago O’Hare February 4 – 6.

Montezuma Conference & New Book Reviews

THIS SATURDAY I will be in Montezuma for the All-Iowa Writers Conference. The conference is open to all with a very low $25 price. More information can be found here.

In addition, there are a few new reviews of my book, End of the Line, that were just brought to my attention:

“[T]he characters are as much of the story as the plot is. As Manno introduces readers to the characters and their flaws, he gives them more depth than the characters typically found in a mystery… Manno also manages to include a host of interesting side characters, which add fun to the read without confusing the plot or weighing it down. End of the Line is an entertaining thriller with fast-paced action and quirky characters that will have you turning pages in anticipation of the next event. I like these guys—and I hope to see more of Stan, Parker, and even Buffy in the future.”

Jacqueline Jung, Nights and Weekends

“Manno’s clean writing style sets a fast pace. Dry details such as annulment procedures are spiced up in the delivery by interesting characters like Fr. Thomas “Rock” Dodge, a former police officer. The ending brings a surprise, but the clues are all in the book if you’re sharp enough to catch them.”

Jacqueline M. Vick, CrimeSpree Magazine

“Love is Murder” – an old friend is back

LOVE IS MURDER, the Chicago mystery conference, on hiatus for the past year, will be back next February, bigger and better than ever, according to the program organizers.

It is scheduled for February 4-6 at the Intercontinental Chicago O’Hare, 5300 N. River Rd., Rosemont, Illinois, complete with its famous “Pitch-a-Palooza” where writers have the chance to pitch editors and agents. It was at a pitch session like that where I sold my first novel, Murder Most Holy, at Love is Murder a few years ago.

I’m planning on being there with End of the Line.

For more information on Love is Murder, click here.